Inderkum proves that the preseason rankings were right all along after big win over previously unbeaten Antelope in D2 semifinals. Defending D2AA state champ Del Oro is next. In the D1 bracket, meanwhile, top two seeds St. Mary’s and Folsom both roll in the semifinals to set up what should be great matchup in section final Saturday at Sac State.
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Those early season blowout losses to Elk Grove and American Canyon are hard to overcome, but beating top-seed Sacramento in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section D2 playoffs and then routing Jesuit in the semifinals has earned Inderkum of Sacramento a date with Del Oro in this week’s SJS D2 finals.
After topping a Dragons’ team that notched a win against D1 top seed Folsom early in the season, the Tigers raced to a 38-7 lead against Jesuit in the second quarter and went on to 52-35 triumph.
Trajon Cotton might be the best all-around player in the entire SJS. Photo: inderkumathleticboosters.org.
For now, since Inderkum is playing Del Oro, the team is now even ahead of Oakdale and Christian Brothers in the rankings despite having one of its losses to an American Canyon team that Christian Brothers just defeated in the D3 semifinals. Christian Brothers now plays Oakdale for the D3 section crown.
Multi-talented Trajon Cotton, who is also a heavily recruited DB prospect, threw for four TDs to lead Inderkum. His first one went to big-time D1 tight end recruit Josh Falo (17 yard) and then the next three went to speedy WR Isaiah Crocker.
While Inderkum’s rise is surprising given its struggles in September, it’s not if one were to look at preseason rankings, which had the Tigers anywhere from fifth to sixth overall in the section, based primarily on the type of players known to be coming back.
Those preseason rankings also almost all had Folsom and St. Mary’s of Stockton in the top two positions. Folsom is also the four-time defending section champion and took the top seed this season despite that loss to Sacramento. St. Mary’s has a loss to national powerhouse St. John Bosco but its wins over Serra (San Mateo) and Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa) have the Rams higher by one spot in the Cal-Hi Sports State Top 25.
Both teams rolled in last week’s D1 semifinals to set up Saturday’s clash at Sac State in the final. St. Mary’s led 41-0 at halftime and beat Oak Ridge of El Dorado Hills 61-21. Folsom played Elk Grove and while it wasn’t 41-0 at halftime the Bulldog defense held the Thundering Herd to just three points in a 41-3 victory.
Since Oak Ridge still has a head-to-head win over Del Oro, the Trojans actually did not drop in this week’s rankings despite the blowout loss. The only way Del Oro probably would finish higher is if the Golden Eagles win another CIF state title.
St. Mary’s QB Jake Dunniway was glad to look at replays of how things were going in the first half for his team’s offense in game vs. Oak Ridge. Photo: Mark Tennis.
(After games of Saturday, Nov. 26)
(Previous ranking in parentheses)
1. (1) St. Mary’s (Stockton) 12-1
2. (2) Folsom 12-1
3. (3) Oak Ridge (El Dorado Hills) 10-3*
4. (5) Del Oro (Loomis) 11-2
5. (4) Elk Grove 11-2*
6. (11) Inderkum (Sacramento) 11-2
7. (8) Manteca 12-1
8. (9) Oakdale 11-2
9. (12) Sacramento 10-2*
10. (8) Turlock 9-3*
11. (7) Jesuit (Carmichael) 9-4*
12. (13) Central Catholic (Modesto) 8-4*
13. (14) Pitman (Turlock) 10-2*
14. (6) Antelope 12-1*
15. (15) Sheldon (Sacramento) 8-4*
16. (18) Grant (Sacramento) 8-4*
17. (18) Christian Brothers (Sacramento) 11-2*
18. (19) Merced 9-4*
19. (20) Napa 7-4*
20. (21) Vacaville 8-4*
21. (17) American Canyon 11-2*
22. (22) Roseville 9-2*
23. (23) Cosumnes Oaks (Elk Grove) 8-4*
24. (24) Davis 5-6*
25. (25) Capital Christian (Sacramento) 11-2
*Season complete.
Dropped Out:
None.
4 Comments
You guys are hilarious… NO team that was down 61-7 at one point before the winning team put in the 3rds string, shouldnt be ANYWHERE NEAR, your top 5 of any Section….
So we just ignore Oak Ridge having a win over Del Oro? Sorry, not the way it works. If SM wins by 20, it’ll be fine the way it is.
You’ll still be pissed no matter what we do less than St. Mary’s being 4th in the state right now. I get it. Dealt with homers for 30 years.
Homers?
I’m showing your true colors Mr. tennis …
We really don’t expect anything from you at all , we’re just pointing out the fact that you seem to want to ignore all the time . Tell Laurel has lost too many games this season to be considered so high but again that’s my ignorant opinion because the gods of the football world like yourself know best …
We should all be thanking you and kneeling in your presence because all you do is motivate the hell out of our kids …
There are 32 seniors on this team 26 of which have played together now for 10 seasons since they were in the second grade.
As expressed we don’t expect ever to crack your top 10 … The only way I guess that happens is if the Stockton Catholic diocese happens to move the school east of Sacramento up Highway 50 somewhere … or into the East Bay
No matter how good your cannabis can be ….nothing will change the fact that we have beat the living snot out of teams that other teams you have ranked in the top 10 barely beat …nothing you say will change
that
What team exactly has St. Mary’s “beat the living snot out of” that barely lost to a team that is in the top 10? There isn’t one. Your comments just don’t make any sense at all. At this point, I think you’re just trying to get a rise out of me. Unless you have a specific question, no point responding any more.